Coin of Alexander the Great, Miletos c. 323

Curator: Here we have a coin of Alexander the Great, from Miletos, currently residing in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It’s worn, almost ghostly, but you can still make out the details. It feels like holding history, a tangible link to the past. Curator: Precisely. The visual elements—the portrait of Herakles on one side, Zeus on the other—were carefully rendered to communicate power and divine association. Editor: But think of the materiality! The metal itself, the labor in its crafting, the economic system it facilitated. It's not just symbolic; it's fundamentally connected to the empire’s physical existence. Curator: The semiotic weight is undeniable, though. These images were potent symbols reinforcing Alexander's authority. Editor: Agreed, but that authority was built on the backs of miners, metallurgists, and mint workers. They're part of the coin's story too. Curator: An important reminder that meaning isn’t simply imposed; it emerges from a complex interaction of form and context. Editor: Exactly. Looking closely, the coin reveals so much more than just a face.